“Something” for the Post-Contest Blues
You would think that I would be happy to have the contest thing behind me. In a way, I am, but in a way, I miss it. It gave me something to do…how sad is that? I don’t mean that I have nothing to do, but with the contest prep I was focused on something. I HAD to workout, eat right, plan for the show, etc. That took a great deal of time and energy. Now that it’s done, I have all this time and must find other things to fill it. Thus, I’m feeling a little blue. Not really depressed, just a little empty. Like, that’s it? It’s over? What now? I get on here and I read about all of you in contest prep mode and I’m jealous. I miss it already. Ok…THAT really is sad, right?
Part of me is afraid that without that "something" I’ll fall off the wagon, go back to eating junk all the time and get fat again. A legitimate concern. I mean, it happens, right? Everyday you hear or see stories about people who lost weight and got in shape just to put it back on once "real life" kicked in. I don’t want that to be me.
So, what do I do? Find another "something". That’s me. I must have something to work toward. If not, I’m not happy. Hence the tri. Just far enough off to give me time to heal the disk (I hope) and get to where I need to be swimming and cycling-wise, but not too far off. It’s not like I expect to go out and win it anyway. I just want to do it. This is something that I’ve thought about doing for a long time. One of those things that would be on my list of things to do before I die I guess.
Yes, having that "something" gives me something to do, something to look forward to, something to motivate me even when I’m feeling a little blue. And, yes, something for my family to say I’m obsessing over 
July 18, 2007 at 6:39 am
Good luck training for your tri. I want to do one .. one day. It is something in my head to have as another goal once I reach my first few. =) Congrats on your first competition.
July 18, 2007 at 6:44 am
Hi Shannon! When I used to box back in the late teens and early twenties I used to feel the same way after a fight. You spend all those hours working out and training hard…preparing your mind for the battle ahead and when it happens you’re at a fever pitch and then…….boom, it’s over!! It was a huge let down and I felt pretty weird for day’s. But then the next challenge came along and I was back in the gym hitting it all over again, sooooo…..just keep challenging yourself and you’ll be fine.
July 18, 2007 at 8:42 am
I know exactly how you feel. I had the same feeling after all three Ironmans, especially the last one where I DNF’ed and ended up in the medical tent. Find the next challenge and go for it, whether it be another contest or tri, etc. Go to active.com and look around at all the events that are held in different sports all over the country and pick something that will take you WAY OUT of your comfort zone. I suspect the sprint tri isn’t going to take you far enough out of your comfort zone to keep you motivated.
July 18, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Ah, one thing that I won’t be going through, thankfully. I’ve already got my eye on competing, for another comp, again.
July 19, 2007 at 1:12 am
Post-contest blues are totally par for the course - especially if you’ve worked your guts out. A "decompression" event shortly after that’s close but not the same sort of thing works well, helps wind down without too much stress. I took a short offroad triathlon, for example, which was just an excuse to get muddy.